Rims action propels sr docs to treat patients

Ranchi: A day after three senior doctors at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) were served with showcause notice for being absent from duty, senior faculty members in the hospital were seen attending to patients on Saturday.
Rims director Dr Kameshwar Prasad said, “The inspections will continue to ensure attendance of senior faculty members in the medical college and hospital. Their absence adversely affects patient care besides the classes of undergraduate and post-graduate students. The absentees will face disciplinary action.”
Additional director (administration) of Rims Chandan Kumar said, “One of the doctors of Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery (CTVS) department has submitted his clarification. Disciplinary action will be initiated against him if the clarification isn’t satisfactory. Absence from duty comes under personal misconduct and it will be mentioned in their service files too.”
Dr Rakesh Choudhary, the associate professor of CTVS department who was one of teh doctors to receive the notice, told TOI that he had left Rims campus minutes before the inspection was conducted. “I wasn’t feeling well due to a sprain. I had verbally informed the HOD before leaving the campus,” he added.
Citing the innumerable complaints received by the Rims management over a period of time about doctors indulging in private practice, Dr Prasad said a special vigilance committee led by the joint secretary-rank official of the state health department was constituted in 2021 under the directions of Jharkhand high court. The panel members will examine the cases and submit the findings to the Rims management. “We will take it to the governing body of Rims,” said Dr Prasad.
Meanwhile, patients expressed satisfaction with the presence of the senior faculty members at the OPD. The attendance of senior doctors not only ensures better consultation for the sick, but the PG doctors also pay heed to their requests, they said.
Gopeshwar Singh, an advocate, said, “I came for check-up with my pathological reports as adviced by the doctor as I got free early from court duties today (on Saturday). I am surprised to see senior faculty members present at the OPD on a late Saturday.”